Question: There are machines like the automated calling unit, pagers, mobile phones, and bells that have ringtones that resemble music. So what is the principle so we may know that it is music or not music, considering that the ringtone that issues from the machines is not like a drum or musical instruments?
Answer: He says: machines have emerged now which have in them ringtones that resemble music.
I say: in these machines are ringtones that do not resemble music which bring about what is intended [i.e. notification]. So it is not necessary for a person to expose himself to something that has in it doubt with the presence of something clear, with no complication in it.
Questioner: how do we know music?
Shaikh: music is well known and whatever resembles it is haram.
Question: They differ
Shaikh: They differ in what
Questioner: They differ: is it music or not?
Shaikh: It is well known, oh my brother. Music is well known. Listen to the news, listen to the radio. I said to you a little bit before: something ambiguous should be left off due his statement (ﷺ):
دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبك
Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt.
[Reported Tirmidhi and graded Saheeh by Al-Albani in Saheeh Tirmidhi no. 2518]
[Taken from: https://shamela.ws/browse.php/book-7687/page-5589 ]
Translated
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
